03 June 2005

Efes is a pilsen (pilsner, pilsener) beer manufactured in Turkey since 1969 by the Anadolu Efes Brewery (www.efespilsen.com.tr - in Turkish). It has a very light aroma and a barely perceptible flavor. I normally prefer more flavorful beers, but I don't mind an occasional break from the ales and porters for a bottle of Efes.

Efes is what the Turks call Ephesus, the famed antique city in southwestern Turkey. George Bean1 mentions the drinking of wine in the antiquity in what is now western Turkey, but I am not aware of any references to beer drinking.

Ephesus used to be a harbor town situated towards the end of a long and relatively narrow bay, but the alluvium brought by the river Cayster (now Küçük Menderes) gradually filled up the bay, eventually isolating Ephesus from the Aegean Sea. The Ephesians tried very hard to keep their harbor open, but failed at the end. I will have more on that in another post.

Cheers!

Ephesus, Temple of Hadrian

Note added Monday nite: Last weekend's beer reviewed at Webiocosm was Guinness Draught. Do you know how to pronounce it?